Vending machine dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser according to preferred teachings of the present invention is disclosed for use in a machine for vending generally cylindrical articles. The dispenser includes a generally cylindrical cradle rotatably mounted below the outlet of a storage enclosure. The enclosure is dimensioned to hold and store a plurality of articles in a serpentine column. The enclosure includes a guiding baffle for directing the bottom article into the outlet of the enclosure and an unweighting baffle which reduces the weight placed on the articles in the enclosure below the unweighting baffle and thus the weight transferred to the cradle by the article in the outlet. The cradle can then be rotated between a first position with an opening of a cavity formed in the cradle aligned with the outlet of the article storage enclosure for receiving an article from the enclosure and a second position with the cradle blocking the passage of articles through the outlet of the storage enclosure and with the opening of the cavity allowing the article to fall from the cavity through the opening. In its most preferred form, the cradle is formed as two generally equal semicylindrical halves which can be easily fabricated by injection molding and which are particularly adapted for interchanging for varying size articles to be vended.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to vending machines,particularly to machines for vending generally cylindrical articles, andparticularly to dispensers for use in machines for vending generallycylindrical articles.

Since their advent, vending machines have proven to be an importantmethod of vending products As vending machines are often located atremote locations and are often serviced only periodically, a need hasarisen for improved dispensers for use in vending machines which haverelatively few moving parts, which are of simple design which is easy tofabricate and assemble, which are relatively trouble free, which areversatile in allowing articles of varying sizes to be vended, and whichare relatively safe in preventing unauthorized access to the articles tobe vended. Further, a need has arisen for dispensers of relatively lowcost to expand the number of market locations which can support the useof vending machines.

SUMMARY

The present invention solves these needs and other problems in machinesfor vending generally cylindrical articles, by providing a dispenserincluding a cradle in association with an article storage enclosure. Thecradle is positionable such as by being rotatably mounted in thepreferred form between a first position with an opening of a cavityformed in the cradle aligned with an outlet of the article storageenclosure and a second position with the cradle blocking the passage ofarticles through the outlet of the storage enclosure and with theopening of the cavity allowing the article to fall from the cavitythrough the opening.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a noveldispenser for use in vending machines.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser for use in machines vending generally cylindrical articles.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which has few moving parts.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which is of simple design.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which is easy to fabricate.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which is easy to assemble.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which is relatively trouble free.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which is adaptable to vend articles of varying size.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which is safe from unauthorized access to the articles to bevended.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a noveldispenser which is relatively inexpensive.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome clearer in light of the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection withthe drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser for use in a vendingmachine according to the preferred teachings of the present invention,with a coin mechanism of the vending machine being shown in phantom.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show front plan views of the dispenser of FIG. 1illustrating positions of the cradle thereof.

FIG. 3,shows an exploded perspective view of a preferred form of acradle for the dispenser of FIG. 1.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms "top","bottom", "first", "second", "inner", "outer", "inside", "outside","length", "width", "depth", "end", "side", "front", "rear", and similarterms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms havereference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appearto a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitatedescribing the invention.

DESCRIPTION

A dispenser according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention for use in a vending machine is shown in the drawings and isgenerally designated 10. Dispenser 10 in its most preferred formdispenses generally cylindrical articles 12 such as soda pop cans, sodapop bottles, juice cans, and the like. Articles 12 have a length 16 andinclude a cylindrical outside surface having a diameter 14 and an axis.

Dispenser 10 generally includes a storage enclosure 18 for holding andstoring a plurality of articles 12 and in the preferred form for holdinga plurality of articles 12 stacked on their cylindrical outside surfaceswith their axes being parallel, and in the most preferred form forholding a plurality of articles 12 in a serpentine column. Specifically,enclosure 18 comprises a hollow parallelepiped including parallel frontand rear walls 20 arranged perpendicular to and joining parallel firstand second side walls 22, a generally open top 24, and a generally openbottom 26. In the most preferred form, open bottom 26 forms the outletof enclosure 18 of a shape and size allowing one of the plurality ofarticles 12 to pass therethrough. Walls 20 and 22 are closed againstremoval of articles 12 from enclosure 18 therethrough. In the mostpreferred form, front wall 20 includes elongated opening 28 having awidth less than diameter 14 of articles 12 to allow viewing of articles12 within enclosure 18 and to allow loading of articles 12 through top24 into enclosure 18 without dropping articles 12. The length ofenclosure 18 between walls 20 is generally equal to or larger thanlength 16 of articles 12. The width of enclosure 18 between walls 22 isat least equal to diameter 14 of articles 12, in the preferredembodiment is larger than diameter 14 of articles 12, and in the mostpreferred form is slightly less than twice diameter 14 of articles 12.

Dispenser 10 further includes a cradle 30 positioned adjacent openbottom 26 for dispensing a single article 12 from the serpentine columnof articles 12 within enclosure 18. Cradle 30 in the preferredembodiment is generally cylindrical in configuration and shape having anaxis, and includes first and second end walls 32 and a cylindrical sidewall 34. The diameter of cradle 30 is greater than diameter 14 ofarticle 12 and the length of cradle 30 between end walls 32 is at leastslightly larger than length 16 of article 12 and is slightly less thanthe length of enclosure 18 between walls 20. A cavity 36 having anopening formed in sidewall 34 is provided in cradle 30 of a size forreceiving a single article 12 with the single article 12 located incavity 36 being inside the radial extent of cradle 30. In the mostpreferred form, cavity 36 has a width and a depth generally equal to butslightly larger than diameter 14 of article 12 and in the most preferredform has a generally U-shape cross section including a generallysemicircular bottom of a diameter generally equal to but slightly largerthan diameter 14 of article 12 and straight, parallel sides spacedgenerally equal to but slightly larger than diameter 14 of article 12.

Cradle 30 is rotatably mounted about its axis below bottom 26 ofenclosure 18, with the axis of cradle 30 being parallel to the axes ofarticles 12 within enclosure 18. Specifically, in the preferred form,annular shoulders 38 are formed on end walls 32 for rotatable receipt inopenings formed in the vending machine such as in extensions of walls 20beyond bottom 26. Flange bushings 42 may be provided as bearings betweenshoulders 38 and the openings in the vending machine. Provisions 44 maybe provided for rotating cradle 30 such as rectangular ears shown whichmay be interconnected to a coin mechanism 40 shown in phantom in FIG. 1or other like rotational device utilized in vending machines such as butnot limited to single rotation electric motors or the like.

Enclosure 18 may include a guide baffle 46 which partially closes bottom26 to a width generally equal to but slightly larger than diameter 14 ofarticle 12 and generally equal to and aligned with the width of theopening of cavity 36. Thus, baffle 46 guides the bottom article 12 ofthe serpentine column of articles 12 toward cavity 36 of cradle 30. Itshould be appreciated that guide baffle 46 can take a variety of formsincluding extending from a single wall 22 as shown or from both walls22. Enclosure 18 may further include a baffle 48 for reducing the weightplaced on the bottom article 12 of the serpentine column of articles 12by the remaining articles 12 in that column. In the most preferred form,baffle 48 is an incline extending downwardly from side wall 22 betweenfront and rear walls 20 at an acute angle for abutting with an article12 in the serpentine column of articles 12 of enclosure 18 above thebottom article 12 adjacent bottom 26 of enclosure 18. Due to theserpentine nature of the column of articles 12, the weight of the columnof articles 12 will generally be transferred to pushing the article 12adjacent baffle 48 against side wall 22 and baffle 48 such that thearticles 12 of the serpentine column of articles 12 below baffle 48 arenot susceptible to the full weight of the column.

It can then be appreciated that dispenser 10 according to the teachingsof the present invention can be easily adapted to dispense varying sizedarticles 12. Specifically, by the selection of a cradle 30 having theappropriate size cavity 36 and/or by the adjustment of baffles 46 and 48according to the size of the particular article 12 to be dispensed.

In the most preferred form, cradle 30 according to the teachings of thepresent invention is of a unique and advantageous construction which canbe easily fabricated such as by injection molding and which isparticularly adapted for interchanging for varying size articles 12.Specifically, cradle 30 is generally axially divided into two generallyequal semicylindrical halves 50 and 52. Specifically, halves 50 and 52include semicircular end walls 32, semicylindrical shoulders 38,generally semicircular ends 54 located generally parallel to and onopposite sides of shoulders 38 than end walls 32 forming generallysemicylindrical spaces 56 between end walls 32 and ends 54, and axiallyextending mounting flanges 58 extending from the free, diameter end ofsemicircular ends 54 along a diameter of cradle 30. In the mostpreferred form, provisions 44 upstand from and divide semicircular ends54 and mounting flanges 58 into two generally identical pieces separatedby spaces 60. In the preferred embodiment, provisions 44 of each halfhas a generally U-shaped cross section. The bottom or central portion ofthe U-shaped cross section of provisions 44 is arcuate and contiguouswith shoulder 38. Semicircular end 54 is divided by and terminates inthe first and second, spaced, parallel legs of the U-shaped crosssection of provisions 44. Similarly, mounting flanges 58 are divided byand terminate in the first and second, spaced, parallel legs of theU-shaped cross section of provisions 44. In the most preferred form,provisions 44 are provided on both ends of cradle 30 for symmetry and inthe most preferred form, the side walls of provisions 44 on the drivenend of cradle 30 extend through semicylindrical space 56 dividing itinto three pieces as shown in the right side of FIG. 3.

Half 50 includes positioning bosses 62 and 64 extending from the innersurfaces of semicylindrical side wall 34. In the most preferred form,bosses 62 are elongated and have generally arcuate outer surfaces 66extending from side wall 34. In the most preferred form, bosses 64 aregenerally short and have the shape of a solid, right parallelepiped. Inassembly, side wall 34 of half 52 may be brought to engage and ride downon surfaces 66 of bosses 62 and then half 52 can be pivoted in ahinge-like motion such that the opposite side wall 34 of half 52 engagethe corresponding side wall 34 of half 50 with bosses 64 abutting theinterior of side wall 34 of half 52 to prevent radial movement of halves50 and 52. Halves 50 and 52 can then be interconnected such as by screws68 extending through mounting flanges 58. It can then be appreciatedthat the outer surface of side wall 34 of halves 50 and 52 is continuousand smooth without breaks or other interruptions.

In the preferred embodiment, cavity 36 is formed in side wall 34 of half52 and is not in any way formed in half 50. It can then be appreciatedthat half 52 can be formed with different sized cavities 36corresponding to the size of article 12 desired to be dispensed. Half 50can then be combined with the desired half 52 to create the completecradle 30 having the desired cavity 36.

It can further be appreciated by persons skilled in injection formationthat due to the semicylindrical configuration of side walls 34 of halves50 and 52 and due to spaces 56 and 60, halves 50 and 52 can berelatively easily fabricated such as by injection plastic molding.

Now that the basic construction of dispenser 10 according to thepreferred teachings of the present invention has been set forth. theoperation and subtle features of dispenser 10 can be explained andappreciated. Specifically, it will be assumed that cradle 30 isrotatably positioned in a position such as shown in FIG. 2A such thatthe opening of cavity 36 is not aligned with open bottom 26 and withside wall 34 of cradle 30 blocking passage of articles 12 through openbottom 26. It can be appreciated that the bottom article 12 of theserpentine column of articles 12 is guided into bottom 26 by baffle 46such that it rests upon and is supported by side wall 34 of cradle 30.When it is desired to dispense an article 12 from enclosure 18, cradle30 is rotated such as by its interconnection to a coin mechanism 40which is manually turned by the person who wishes to purchase article12. Due to baffle 48, the entire weight of the serpentine column ofarticles 12 is not subjected to side wall 34 of cradle 30, but ratherside wall 34 is generally subjected only to the weight of the articles12 below baffle 48. Thus, cradle 30 may be easily rotated in theopenings of the vending machine. In the most preferred form, the bottomarticle 12 may in fact rotate about its axis due to the engagement ofits sidewall with side wall 34 of cradle 30 to prevent article 12 fromhanging up in enclosure 18 and to help its entry into cavity 36 ofcradle 30. When cradle 30 is rotated into a first position such that theopening of cavity 36 aligns itself with article 12 guided in bottom 26of enclosure 18, the bottom article 12 falls into and is received withincavity 36 of cradle 30 as shown in FIG. 2B. Due to the sizing of cavity36, the next article 12 behind the article 12 in cavity 36 remainsoutside of cavity 36 such that cradle 30 may be continued to be rotatedsuch that side wall 34 moves below the next article 12 and closes openbottom 26 of enclosure 18. It can then be appreciated that this "next"article 12 becomes the bottom article 12 in enclosure 18 for the nextpurchase.

Upon continued rotation of cradle 30, cavity 36 may be positioned in asecond position as shown in FIG. 2C such that article 12 can falltherefrom under gravity for delivery to the customer. For example,article 12 may fall on an incline in the vending machine and roll towardthe front of the vending machine for access by the customer. It can beappreciated that in the second position, side wall 34 blocks open bottom26 for preventing the passage of articles 12 therethrough.

Although only a single dispenser 10 has been described, it can beappreciated that a single vending machine may include multipledispensers 10 according to the teachings of the present invention.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a machine for vending generally cylindricalarticles, a dispenser comprising, in combination: means for storing aplurality of the articles, with the storing means having an outlet of asize and shape allowing one of the plurality of articles to passtherethrough; a cradle positioned adjacent the outlet of the storingmeans, with the cradle being generally cylindrical in shape and havingan axis; a cavity formed in the cradle for receiving the article to beended, with the cavity having an opening; and means for rotatablymounting the cradle below the outlet of the storing means about the axisfor positioning the cradle between a first position with the opening ofthe cavity aligned with the outlet of the storing means for receivingthe article to be vended from the storing means and a second positionwith the cradle blocking the passage of the articles through the outletof the storing means and with the opening of the cavity allowing thearticle to fall from the cavity through the opening, wherein the cradlecomprises, in combination: first and second semicylindrical halves, withthe cavity located in the second semicylindrical half allowing firstsemicylindrical halves of identical construction to be utilized withsecond semicylindrical halves having cavities of different sizes todispense articles of corresponding sizes allowing the cradle to beinterchanged in the dispenser for dispensing varying sized articles. 2.The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the article includes a cylindricaloutside surface having an axis and a diameter; wherein the article has alength; wherein the plurality of articles are stacked on theircylindrical outside surfaces; wherein the rotatably mounting meansrotatably mounts the cradle with the axis of the cradle parallel to theaxes of the outside surfaces of the articles; and wherein the cavity hasa length generally equal to but slightly larger than the length of thearticle and has a depth and a width generally equal to but slightlylarger than the diameter of the outside surface of the article.
 3. Thedispenser of claim 2 wherein the storing means comprises an enclosurehaving a length generally equal to but slightly larger than the lengthof the article and has a width greater than the diameter of the outsidesurface of the article, with the plurality of articles arranged in aserpentine column in the enclosure; and wherein the enclosure includes abaffle for directing one of the plurality cf articles to be vended intothe outlet of the storing means.
 4. The dispenser of claim 3 furthercomprising, in combination: means for reducing the weight placed on thearticle adjacent the outlet of the storing means by the remainingarticles in the storing means.
 5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein theweight reducing means comprises an inclined baffle within the enclosurefor abutting with an article in the storing means above the articleadjacent the outlet of the storing means.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1wherein the rotatably mounting means comprises annular shoulders formedon the cradle for receipt in openings formed in the vending machine. 7.The dispenser of claim 6 further comprising, in combination: flangebushings receiving on the annular shoulders of the cradle and receivedin the openings formed in the vending machine, with the flange bushingsacting as bearings between the annular shoulders and the openings of thevending machine.
 8. The dispenser of claim 6 further comprising, incombination: means attached to the cradle for interconnection to arotational device of the vending machine.
 9. The dispenser of claim 8wherein the interconnection means comprises a rectangular ear formed onthe cradle and extending axially beyond the annular shoulder.
 10. Thedispenser of claim 1 wherein the cradle includes first and secondgenerally circular end walls and a generally cylindrical side wall, withthe opening of the cavity formed in the generally cylindrical side wall;and wherein the rotatably mounting means comprises annular shouldersextending axially from the end walls for receipt in openings formed inthe vending machine.
 11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the first andsecond semicylindrical halves further comprise, in combination: asemicircular end integrally formed on the annular shoulder opposite theend walls to form a generally semicylindrical space between thesemicircular ends and the end walls for ease of fabrication by injectionmolding.
 12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the first and secondsemicylindrical halves further comprise, in combination: ears extendingaxially from the semicircular end for interconnection to a rotationaldevice of the vending machine, with the ears having a generally U-shapedcross section, with the ears including a central portion and first andsecond spaced, parallel legs extending therefrom, with the centralportion being accurate and contiguous with the annular shoulder and withthe semicircular end being divided by and terminating in the first andsecond legs of the ear for ease of fabrication by injection molding. 13.The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the first and second semicylindricalhalves further comprise, in combination: axially extending mountingflanges extending from the semicircular end; and means for securing theaxially extending mounting flanges of the first and secondsemicylindrical halves together.
 14. The dispenser of claim 13 whereinthe axially extending mounting flanges of the first and secondsemicylindrical halves are divided by and terminate in the first andsecond legs of the ear for ease of fabrication by injection molding. 15.The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the first and second semicylindricalhalves further comprise, in combination: axially extending mountingflanges extending from the semicircular end; and means for securing theaxially extending mounting flanges of the first and secondsemicylindrical halves together.
 16. The dispenser of claim 15 whereinthe first semicylindrical half includes positioning bosses extendingfrom the inner surface of the semicylindrical side wall for engaging theinner surface of the semicylindrical side wall of the secondsemicylindrical half.
 17. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising,in combination: means for reducing the weight placed on the articleadjacent the outlet of the storing means by the remaining articles inthe storing means.
 18. The dispenser of claim 17 wherein the weightreducing means comprises an inclined baffle for abutting with an articlein the storing means above the article adjacent the outlet of thestoring means.